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Reading paycheck stub can save time, money by Jacquelyn K. Jones Human Resources  When was the last time that you read your paycheck stub?  Eighty-two percent of Medical University and Medical University Authority employees have their earnings directly deposited into their bank accounts. Therefore, most of us just check to make sure the money is in the bank and throw the paycheck stub into a drawer. Derek Sanford, manager, MUSC Payroll Office, says that there are many good reasons to review your paycheck stub, including saving money.  “Not reviewing your check stub can cost you money,” said Sanford.  “If there has been a change in your family status or earnings it is important to make sure that the proper withholding of taxes occurs. You could be over withholding or worse yet, under withholding which may cause penalties and/or interest to accrue to the outstanding balance.” Additionally, several deductions are withheld on a pretax basis, which results in more take home pay.  Look for an asterisk (*) by health, dental and optional life insurance deductions, supplemental retirement programs, medical and day care spending accounts and University parking. If you have any of these deductions and the asterisk (*) is missing, Sanford wants you to call the Payroll Office. Holly Maben, university benefits coordinator, believes that the most important reason to review your paycheck stub is it contains a lot of useful information. According to Maben, many employees call wanting to know the number of allowances they have claimed on their W4 Form. This information is on your paycheck stub. Other frequently asked questions are about annual and sick leave. Your paycheck stub can tell you the amount of annual and sick leave you have used during the calendar year, your leave balances, and your annual leave accrual rate. Knowing the information included on your stub can save you time. Both Maben and Sanford encourage employees to carefully review their stubs when they have changes to their 401k, 403b or 457 plans.  December is a good month to start the practice of regularly reviewing your paycheck stub. Many employees made changes to their insurances in October during Open Enrollment.  The changes will appear on the last regular paychecks issued in December.  Make the reading of your paycheck stub a New Year’s Resolution. You will be glad that you did.